Circuit-controlling mechanism.



F. BEGHOFF. CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MECHANISM,

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 16, 1968.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

//r/I..L. O B Q m'zmsses .//7 1 677 60; Ferdmam fischoff @wMa unrrnn STATES PAilENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND BECHOFF, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR- TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY A CORPORATION: OF NEW YORK.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING" MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed December 16, 1908. Serial No. 467,881.

-.used in systems of remote control and'are interlocked to prevent the simultaneous closing of a plurality ofcontrol circuits.

Many manually controlled devices, such as oil switches, must be installed in inconvenient and inaccessible locations and are usually operated by a remote control systen' in which a motor for operating the switch is controlled by means of control circuits leading from the motor to aconvcnienily located switch board. Since the motor operated device is usually invisible from the switch board, the mechanism on the switch board for opening and closing the control circuits should not only be reliable, but should show the posi ion of the motor actuated device, and the object of my invention is to provide reliable and efficient controlling mechanism for opening and closing the control circuits in a. reliable manner, for preventing the simultaneous closing of two or more control circuits and for indicating the position of the motor actuated device by showing which control circuit was lastclosed.

In carrying out my invention, a conveniently located switch board is provided with a switch for each control circuit and each switch has an indicator moved by it, the indicators of the switches being so related to each other that they interlock and thereby interlock the switches. In the preferred form, the Switch remains closed only while I held by the operator and is returned to the open position by a spring, a suitable connection between the indicator and switch permitting the indicator to remain in the position to which it was moved as the switch was closed, and thereby to show which switch was last closed. The positivp and reliable closing of the control circuit is sccured by mounting the cooperating contacts to make sliding engagement with each other and at the same time to be forced into contact with each other by a yielding pressure which increases as the contacts move over each other. l

My invention will best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawing which is an illustration of one of the various forms in which the invention may be en bodied, and in -which- Figure l is a plan view of the controlling mechanism mounted on the switch-board; Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. l, with part of the switchboard and of the mechanism broken away to show the con struction; F ig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism with the handles and upper plate removed to show the interlocking indicators;

Fig. l is a plan view of the back of the switchboard with a portion of the mechanism broken away; Fig. 5 is anend view partly in section showing the cooperating contacts in the position to close the control circuit, and Fig.6 is a view;similar to Fig. 5, with the contacts in the position to open the circuit.

The form of controlling mechanism shown in the drawings is mounted on the switchboard or panel 1, to the rear of which is secured the back plate 2 and to the front of which is secured the front plate 3, the

two plates being firmly held in position on the switch board by means of binding screws .4, which pass through the switch board and connect the two plates. Operating handles 5 and 5 are mounted on the front of the switch board on-the front. ends of rods or switch-actuators G and (3, which extend through both the. front and back plates and through the switch board, as shown in F ig.

2. Each rod or switch actuator is loosely Journaled 1n the front anddiack plates to rotate and also to move lougitmliually. so-

that each actuator is capable both of angular movcmcnt about its axis and of axial movement along its axis -'lhc coi'lpcraling contacts for opening and closing the control circuits are mounted l'mhind lhc switchboard l and in the specific form o't'.dc\'ico shown in the drawings con'iprisc uiovahlc contacts 7- aud 7 made in the form of bridging contacts mounted on and insulated "from 1hr rods or switch actuators 6 and (3 and coiip Mum-.. unnmynbuwmcrating with fixed contacts 8 and 8 mounted on and insulated from the contact plate 2, as shown in Fig. 4:. The movable contacts 7 and 7 are rotatable with therods or switch actuators 6, 6 and close the control circuit by bridging the gap between the fixed contacts, as shown in Fig. 5.

The control circuits may be both opened and closed by the operator, if desired, but in the preferred construction the control zircuits are normally open and are closed only so long as the handle is grasped by the operator. "As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the

- rods or switch actuators 6, (S are normally held in position to open the circuit by means of springs 9, 9 connected at one end to the front plate 3 and at the other end to the bosses 10, 10*, splined on the switch actuators I between the front plate 3 and the switchboard. The springs are put under strain by the rotationof the switch actuators to c ose the switches and as soon as the switch actuators are released by the operator, the,

springs draw the bosses back into engagement with the stops 11, 11 thereby opening the switches. The stops also prevent the rotation ofthe switch actuators in the wrong direction. 'The two rods or switch actuators are interlocked and are prevented from simultaneously closing the switches by means" of arms 12, 12 on the bosses, which cooperate with arms 13, 13 of movable indi caters pivoted to the front plate 3 and provided with targets 14: and is which reg ster with an opening 15 in thefront plate 3 when the switch connected to the indicator is closed. Each indicatoris actuated b the switch actuator to which it is connecte and the indicators are interlocked with each other in any suitable way, preferably by being mounted to move in the same plane, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and to overlap in said plane so that the indicators lie side by side .and cannot be moved past each other. Each indicator is broughtinto registry with the opening 15 when itsswitch is closed, but since the indicators overlap in the same plane, only one indicator can be in registry .with the opening 16 at one time,

and as long as it is in registry with the opening it blocks the movement of the other indicator and thereby prevents the closing of the other switch. I

As shown in Fig. 3, the connections between the arms 12, 12 on the bosses 10, 10* and the arms 13, 13 on the indicators are such that the switch actuator can be turned back to switch opening position without drawing the indicator back with it, and the indicator out of registry thereby moving with the opening 15. The indicators move with enough friction to prevent displacement, and when either indicator has been brought into registry with the opening 15,

it remains in registry with the opening until displaced by the other indicator when the other switch" is closed. It is impossible to bring both switches into the switch closing position at the same time, since both indicaters cannot be brought into registry with the opening 15 at the same time, and neither switch is closed until its indicator is in registry with the opening 15. i

The cooperating contacts 7, 7" and 8, 8* for closing the circuits are brought into firm and reliable engagement with each other by sliding over each other as the switch is closed and also by bein forced into yielding engagement with eadli other with a pressure which increases as the contacts slide over each other. The preferred construction for securing this result is .shown in the drawing, in which angular movement of the switch actuator about its axis causes-its axial movement in a direction to force the movable contact into firm engagement with the fixed contacts. The preferred'construction for securing this movement of the switches comprises resilient helical abutments, preferably in the form of helical springs 16, 16,

surrounding the switch actuators 6, 6 and each having one end secured to the back plate The movable contacts 7, 7' are operatively connected to the resilient supports or abutments 16, 16 by means of lugs or pins 17, 17 mounted on the switch actuators and engaging the helical springs between the ends. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, v

the helical spring forms a yielding screw thread which cooperates with the pin 17, 17 to move the switch actuators longitudinally, thereby forcing the movable contacts into yielding engagement with the fixed contacts. As the movablecontact is rotated while in engagement with the fixed contacts, the helical spring is compressed more and more andthe, pressure exerted between the contacts increases as the contacts slide over each other, thereby insuring a' positive and reliable closing in the control circuit.

My invention may be embodied in many other forms from that shown and described and I therefore do not wish to be restricted to the precise arrangement disclosed, since various modifications and chan es may be made without departing from t e spirlt' of my invention.

What I claim as new and dwire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: 1. The combination with two independently operable switches, of a movable indi- 1 cator actuated by one of said switches, and means cooperating with said indicator and with said other switch to lock one switch closed when the other is open and thereby prevent simultaneous closing of said switches.

2. The combination with two independently operable switches, of a movable indicator actuated by one of said switches, and. a member actuated by the other switch and mounted to move in a path intersecting the path of said indicator, whereby simultane-v ous closing of said switches is prevented.

3. The combination with two independently o erable switches, of two indicators mounte to move in intersecting paths, and means cooperating with said indicators and said switches to render their movementsmutually dependent and thereby enable said indicators to prevent simultaneous operation of said switches.

i. The combination with two independently operable switches and awall having the other, and means whereby either of said actuators when rotating moves a correspending member to said predetermined osition and thereby blocks the other mem er and prevents rotation of the other actuator.

6. The combination with two switches having independently rotatable switch actuators, of two indicators pivoted to swing in the same plane and to lie side by side in said plane, and lugs secured to said actuators to engage said indicators and move each indicator successively to the same position in said plane as its actuator is moved to switch closing position, whereby simultaneous closing of both switches is prevented.

The combination with a plate having an opening and two independently rotatable switch actuators extending through said plate, of two indicators mounted to move successively into registry with said opening and. to lie side by side, and means cooperating with said indicators and said actuators whereby the movement of either actuator to switch closing" position brings the corresponding indicator into registry with said opening and blocks the switch closing movement of the other-indicator and actuator.

In witness whereof,'I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of December, 1908.

FERDINAND BECHOFF.

Witnesses: I V

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Oarono. 

